News & Events

How to create healthy lifestyles for children

The Infants' Home was chosen as the site to launch two Federal Government initiatives to improve the health and wellbeing of Australian children.

We hosted the launch of the Federal Government’s Healthy Kids Check and the Get Set 4 Life guide.

Mark Butler, the Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Minister for Social Inclusion, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Mental Health Reform, Minister for Housing and Homelessness, launched the program and guide at Robinson House.

Minister Mark Butler (L) with Robyn Huber (middle), Sarah Holland and her sons Will and Darcy.

A group of our energetic and not-so-camera shy 3 and 4 year-olds were on hand to assist the Minister. They were joined by the Director of Robinson House, Robyn Huber, some of our educators and carers, and a few parents.

The Infants’ Home was chosen for this launch because of our involvement with the KidsMatter program, and for our work as an integrated early childhood education and care service for children.

What is the Healthy Kids Check?

The aim of the Healthy Kids Check is to improve the health and wellbeing of children and promote early detection of lifestyle risk factors, delayed development, and illness.

It also provides the opportunity to discuss with your family doctor or practice nurse guidance on healthy lifestyles and early intervention strategies for your child.

You are what you eat...original illustration by Liz Lovell.

A Healthy Kids Check includes such things as:

assessment of your child’s height and weight

assessment of their eyesight, hearing and oral health

discussion about their toilet habits and known or suspected allergies

What is Get Set 4 Life?

The Get Set 4 Life guide provides practical information on children’s health and covers techniques for teaching children healthy habits that could last a lifetime.

Key areas of health and age-appropriate development covered in the booklet include:

healthy eating

regular exercise

speech and language

oral health

Anita Kumar, Minister Butler, Ethan and his Mum (R) are joined by Saanvi at the light table.

Our philosophy

The Infants' Home CEO, Anita Kumar, says it was an honour and a privilege for The Infants’ Home to host the program launch.

"Our vision at The Infants' Home is a society in which each child has the opportunity in early childhood to develop the abilities to meet life's challenges," Anita says.

"This is what The Infants’ Home has been striving to achieve in one form or another for almost 140 years.

"Today, as an integrated service, we are able to offer a holistic approach to the early education, early intervention and specialist health care for all children aged from birth to their first days of school – all under one roof.

"Along with wonderful programs like Healthy Kids Check and Get Set 4 Life we are very proud to play our role in helping to give each child every opportunity."